Sun City pastor to retire in June

Lakeview United Methodist Church Senior Pastor David (Dave) Summers officially begins his retirement June 23, when he will give his last sermon after more than 30 years of serving in United Methodist churches in Massachusetts, California and Arizona.

“It’s been a joy and privilege to be a United Methodist pastor and now to be able to serve with the people of Lakeview ... my wife and I will miss this church dearly,” said Summers.

In his four years at Lakeview, there are several areas of ministry that have felt important to him. Participating in the I-HELP (Interfaith Homelesss Emergency Lodging Program), Lakeview feeds and houses the homeless Friday and Saturday nights and have seen many “graduate” to self-sufficiency. Strengthening welcoming and connections ministry has encouraged many new visitors to the church and to the online worship ministry, that assists people to build relationships and connections with Lakeview.

“I will miss preparing and delivering sermons. I like the intellectual and spiritual work involved in creating and sharing an engaging message,” Summers said. He especially has enjoyed the TNT (Thursday Nights Together) dinners - laughing, sharing, singing and feasting together.

“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” was sung at his ordination in 1988 and still remains his favorite hymn. Summers stated that Easter has always been his favorite Christian holiday and season because “it is at the heart of our faith with the promise and possibility of new life, here and now as well as the life beyond.”

Retirement will afford Summers and his wife Kim more time to visit their family of four adult children and six beautiful” grandchildren and to drive and see more of the country. He is a member of a classic rock band, playing “the best music ever written from the 1960s and 1970s.” Any extra spare time will be spent gardening, exercising, hiking and reading.

Born in Phoenix, Summers grew up mostly in Southern California and then Quincy, a small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. He attended school at the University of Pacific in Stockton, received a PhD at Yale and attended seminary at the Boston University School of Theology.

Summers described Lakeview as “a deeply caring church sharing concern for each other and the community ... has been willing to embrace change and try new ministries. It is an active and vibrant church with a can-do attitude. This church knows how to love and have fun together.”